Roof light wiring

[Ianinessex]

A question for all you with lights on the roof. How did you get the wiring from the lights into the car? :nenau I also have the same issue with the CB aerial cable.
I have looked at grommet seals and waterproof connectors, but I am not sure cutting a hole in the roof is the best solution :augie
I have currently got a wire in through the door seal, but in heavy rain it leaks and so is not a long term solution.
Ian

 

[Fez_uk]

I run my wiring and coax along the snorkel and then a small jump to the roof rails.

It was in some of that ribbed flexi conduit stuff too.

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Waterproof connectors through the roof for all mine...

 

[Ianinessex]

I run my wiring and coax along the snorkel and then a small jump to the roof rails.

It was in some of that ribbed flexi conduit stuff too.

What is the route? Switches inside car - through bulkhead into engine compartment? (relays / fuses there?) - then where to base of snorkel? Any pictures would be appreciated
Ian

 

[Ianinessex]

Waterproof connectors through the roof for all mine...

This was my original plan but I had concerns about the seals. What connectors did you use? Have you done this for a CB aerial lead as well? Any pictures would be appreciated.
Ian

 

[Fez_uk]

What is the route? Switches inside car - through bulkhead into engine compartment? (relays / fuses there?) - then where to base of snorkel? Any pictures would be appreciated
Ian

Yes, Then came out near the top of the wing along the snork to the roof rails/rack. Although it's not the exact same as your setup you get an idea.

I had wiring for roof spotlights and 2 radio antennas.

 

[Sweety]

On my last T2 ran the wire from the lights down behind the door seal by the windscreen & in via the grommet for the wiring into the door, Just put a little U shaped loop in the spot light wire so any water would run/rip off & not run towards the grommet but still added a little drop of silicon just incase:thumb2 The cable for the CB came in via the drivers door seal & only in really heavy rain did I get a slight drip but when I get around to doing it on this truck it'll prob come in via the door grommet like the spot light wiring or in via the grommet on the B post for the rear door cables

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

This was my original plan but I had concerns about the seals. What connectors did you use? Have you done this for a CB aerial lead as well? Any pictures would be appreciated.
Ian

I have used a couple of different connectors, the one for the front lights is a 7pin 10amp per contact military type screw together plug and chassis socket, I purchased from RS components. These are the part numbers for the bits I ordered.

Cable Plug 3594407
Socket dust cap 1152045 (Used when I remove the lights)
Chassis socket 1151985

These are really nice, and seal up perfectly, although I did also use a bit of Tigerseal when I fitted it. When I first fitted the socket, I had standard 55w Halogen spots on a roof bar, and wired it up, so I could have 6 lights up there (I only ever got round to fitting 4), all with separate feeds, earthing via the roof bar which was bolted to the roof, to minimise any volt drop. The 7th pin was used for my LED running lights. When I changed over the the 240w LED light bar, I just wired all 6 in parallel, so again, no issues with any volt drop. I used 7 core trailer cable as the feed wire.


The rear light connectors are 4 pin Deck connectors from Ebay, which again are extra sealed with tigerseal, and are supposedly rated at 25amps per pin, but I am not sure I would want to run them that high. I only run LED lights through them, and they have been perfect so far.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plug-Socket-Connectors-2-to-12-Pin-Boat-deck-Camper-Caravan-waterproof-kit-/151449479603?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&var=450641030699&hash=item234317a9b3

On cars in the past, I have used standard CB aerial mount through the roof still with a bit of tigerseal, with no issues, but the T2 was too high for me to want it on the roof, so I went for my aerials mounted on the front bullbar. I only use the CB for 4x4response work, so it tends to be over short ranges, and has been fine. I am not bothered about long distance "DX'ing", so have no idea how bad being mounted so non-central, it is. On our T1, I used what is sold as a "Land Rover" aerial mount on Ebay, which bolts to the side of the car, and put it by the rear light cluster, again, it works fine there, for how we use it, and again, no water issues.

I thought I had some pictures, but can't find them at the moment, so will try and get some tomorrow.

 

[Banshee]

Boom!!!! Thats just the job, thats exactly how I'm going to do it!!!

 

[exosteve]

Yes, Then came out near the top of the wing along the snork to the roof rails/rack. Although it's not the exact same as your setup you get an idea.

I had wiring for roof spotlights and 2 radio antennas.

I was going to find some pics of mine.but this is very neat.